Becoming Sure of Life

There were many years of my life that I found myself to be quite jealous of friends who had been raised in their Catholic faith. They had what I had always wanted. I longed to be connected to God in a way that I believed only happened when one is fully immersed in the lifelong practices of his or her faith. As a child of divorce, my parents had long abandoned their Catholic identity and I was left to forge my own relationship with God. Indeed, I even had to decide that this was something I wanted, as it was never put before me as a “life” option. I saw that my grandparents were faith-filled Catholics and had sacrificed dearly to send their children, my parents, to parochial schools and yet I was also privy to the ways in which that same faith seemed to push my parents away as their young marriage ended. There weren’t any mixed messages, though. The messages were quite clear: the Catholic faith wasn’t what we practiced in our home.

As I grew into my teen years, I spent most of my time in Jewish homes where I learned of Jesus as a Jew and loved Him in that regard before I fully understood what it meant that He was my Savior and loved Him as I do now. My family did not attend Church. We weren’t even part of the Christmas/Easter crowd. There was an emptiness deep inside of me that was filled in synagogues and at Passover tables. It was an amazing time in my life.

I can clearly remember sitting in Church, many years later, and gazing at the priest as he held up the Host and then bursting into tears because my many Passover dinners as a youth came flooding back to me. I could not contain my emotions and had to leave Church without receiving communion because I was sobbing uncontrollably at the beautiful connection. I became on-fire for my Catholic faith and could not get enough information. I prayed and researched and wrote and prayed some more. I spent countless hours and many thousands of dollars learning my faith. As God would have it, I became close friends with a Protestant sister who taught me a love for the Word and I began voraciously reading Scripture. I could not get enough of the words which seemed to float off the pages and into my heart.

All the while, though, a little sad voice kept whispering to me, “If only you had known Jesus this much before…” It wasn’t as if I was ungrateful. After all, I was finally indoctrinated. Rather, I had that sort of regret knowing that there was something I could have had, all along, but didn’t. Of course, in retrospect, it is easy to see that God had been preparing my heart in the Jewish homes of my childhood friends for an understanding that still brings tears to my eyes.

Meanwhile, as I spent years trying to “catch up” to my Catholic brothers and sisters and learn the faith, I would hear rumblings about this person missing out on that dogma or that person missing out on this understanding. However, I never really understood what the complaints were about because I assumed the complainer was just being a little harsh on the institution as a whole. I remember, earlier this year, editing Teresa Tomeo’s book Newsflash and understanding, more fully, what the grumbling was based upon. I began to get a sense that the lack of teaching of the Catholic flock wasn’t just a matter of missing a thing here or there, with the inevitable consequence of having many thousands of people, even millions, who did not actually know specific Catholic Church teachings on any number of issues. This lack of correct catechesis has become the foundation upon which we have an America where abortion is an option, despite the fact that polls show abortion is not supported by a majority of American citizens. Indeed, the only way that Roe v. Wade became law was through judicial process that did not put the issue to a vote.

The last few months have been difficult for Catholics everywhere. Long taught of the need for social justice, Catholics have made great strides for the underprivileged, poverty-stricken, and elderly. Catholics have always understood what Christ taught in regards to the obligation of one person to another. But somehow the pro-life movement has been stymied from within. Whether from the rank-and-file or from leaders who echo the sentiment that “abortion is a lost cause,” pro-life measures are now on the line. Gains that have been made over the past two decades would be rolled back under an Obama administration. Sanctity of life, within the womb, would have no place in his White House.

I remember questioning everyone (and getting no answer) as how a Catholic could vote “pro-choice.” Ted Kennedy was a conundrum to me. I tried to tell anyone who would listen that the Church was quite clear that abortion is an intrinsic evil. This wasn’t to say that war could not in some cases also be evil or that the economy wasn’t an issue. It was just that they were matters with a number of different answers and alternatives while abortion had no alternatives. It was killing a child.

I heard many great and mighty arguments on why a Catholic could be a “pro-choice” voter and each was more questionable than the last. There were times that I became emotionally exhausted from fighting the “good fight” and attempting to share Church teaching with people who did not want to hear it. Maybe, I thought, I really didn’t understand the Church correctly and maybe abortion and war and the economy were all one in the same. After all, could that many Catholics be wrong? And such high profile Catholics as Biden, Pelosi, and Kennedy?

However, I still couldn’t let go of what I considered to be God’s providential timing of a couple of things during this historic presidential election. Why, I prayed, did the Lord have the very significant anniversaries of Humanae Vitae and Mulieris Dignitatem come up now? Could it be that God wanted Catholics to study and know these documents before going to the polls? Does God really work like that? I have a dear friend who says there are no such things as coincidences and I tend to agree with her but obviously don’t have any idea if God is calling Catholics especially to unite for life right now, during this critical juncture in American history.

As many people know, my love for the Jewish roots of our faith runs deep. It was in Jewish homes and with Jewish families that I first really knew Christ. Right now, I can’t help but think of the times I learned about God’s wrath; times in which God would allow His people to be overrun by their enemies. It was their punishment for disobedience. In our secularized interest to see God as only love and mercy we’ve forgotten that He is a God who also judges and must be obeyed.

Is that what is in store for us if we continue on the path of moral decay? Our precious nation has changed tremendously in the past 20 years: same-sex marriages, the culture of death, and the total disregard for personal or social responsibility have overtaken our nation. Women, especially, have borne the brunt of the changes in the past three decades. The messages they’ve received have been so contradictory and disheartening.

Many Catholics misunderstand their faith because of the secularized “Catholic pro-choice politicians” such as Biden, Pelosi, and Kennedy. Others simply reject the Magisterium as a whole and want others to do the same. How ironic that the same people who holler “Can’t you think for yourself?” and “Why follow Church teaching?” actually expect the same “can’t think for yourself” mindset but for a different agenda. Consider the implication of this! As a result, thousands of Catholics are willing to usher in as president of the United States a man who supports abortion, fully and unequivocally. If abortion is an intrinsic evil, as the Church teaches, and Catholics vote for a man who supports it, what will the consequence be? Is it not better to err on the side of caution and vote against abortion?

For me there has been one wonderfully bright spot this election year. I have finally been able to let go of the sadness I once had at not being raised in the faith. Having catechized myself over the past 20 year has allowed me to be confident in what the Church teaches on abortion and understand my role as a Catholic voter.

Cheryl Dickow is a Catholic wife, mother, author and speaker. Cheryl’s newest book is Wrapped Up: God’s Ten Gifts for Womenwhich is co-authored with Teresa Tomeo and is published by Servant (a division of Franciscan Media); there is also a companion journal that accompanies the book and an audio version intended for women’s studies or for individual reflection. Cheryl’s titles also include the woman’s inspirational fiction book Elizabeth: A Holy Land Pilgrimage. Elizabeth is available in paperback or Kindle format. Her company is Bezalel Books where her goal is to publish great Catholic books for families and classrooms that entertain while uplifting the Catholic faith and is located at www.BezalelBooks.com. To invite Cheryl to speak at your event, write her at Cheryl@BezalelBooks.com.

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Thank you, Cheryl, for taking the time to share your experiences with us.

There is one more event that may be God’s providential timing: http://www.40daysforlife.com/ . I urge all readers of this article to jump aboard and pray, fast and reach out these remaining 10 days of the National 40 Days for Life vigil. Go the the website and sign up for daily e-mails (they are very inspirational).

Let us all pray that God’s merciful will will be done.

SharG

Cheryl,

My oldest son, at 17, is rejecting the faith that I have been raising him in. I will assign this article for him to read for his religion class (an advantage to homeschooling!) I hope he will appreciate the emptiness you describe here as a child, being raised without even getting to be near Jesus on Christmas and Easter. He has no idea what a great gift he has been given to be raised in the Faith.

Makis, I have felt the same way about 40 Days for Life. McCain has gone from being down 9% among Catholics to being up 11%.

Surely the efforts of those in the 40 Days for Life campaign are helping to bring down such a grace. And thank God for Nancy Pelosi, whose ridiculous statement on abortion and the Cathlolic Church brought out beautiful, clear responses from so many bishops and put the abortion issue back in the news.

Dave

As I was reading, this thought occurred to me… if not for Catholic Exchange, I doubt I would have come across this enlightening article (and numerous others). I offer a sincere thank you to all that have made the CE website a wonderful faith resource,

Mary Kochan

Thank you, Dave, for giving me the chance to remind everyone that CE is a non-profit that depends on the donations of its readers for a good portion of our budget.

Please go to the “Donate” link at the top right hand part of the page and click to see how you can help us. We are always in need of one-time donations, but we are especially blessed when you folks set up a monthly donation as knowing what our base budget will be from month to month is a great help in planning. Thank you for your support of Catholic Exchange.

Warren Jewell

Ahh – ‘feminine’ and ‘Jewish’ in profound catechesis.

Sounds like the person and graces of a certain Queen Mother in Paradise.

May she bless you until one ‘day’ beyond days you can sit with her over tea and talk of Paschs long past.

yblegen

Thank you Cheryl. I, too, am baffled at those who say they are Catholic who have no problem voting for a pro-abortion candidate. I can’t help but think how different this Country would be today if we had been catechized in the Catholic Faith.

Grace Harman

I am sad that Catholics didn’t stand up and fight harder for Life when Roe v. Wade was first decided, but perhaps the Humanae Vitae rejection left them in the dark about he importance of protecting life at earliest stages? We need to fight NOW or we will all be targeted and screened out -or maybe martyred for our Faith.

Warren Jewell

yblegen notes: “I can’t help but think how different this Country would be today if we had been catechized in the Catholic Faith.”

To that note, and to all prayers for ordinary and pastoral catechization and its apparent re-evangelization: AAA-men!

A friend just completed a 4-minute YouTube video that I think you’ll like  but unfortunately liking it is not enough. We have a moment in time here that we may look back on for the rest of our lives  a moment to make a difference in our nation’s direction on the issue of abortion. Please help us get the word out. This video is designed especially for undecided Christian voters. It is suitable for all ages (See our website notice below). Barack Obama represents the Culture of Death, but his moderate sounding rhetoric covers his genuine views. This video gives people better access to the truth. I hope you’ll agree. Thanks for whatever you can do to help start a grassroots fire on the internet.

Please Note: This video is safe for all ages  there are no graphic images. The goal here is to give American citizens a solid grasp of where Senators McCain and Obama really stand on the life issue, using their own words. Millions of young lives depend on our election-day decisions. Over 35 years of hard won pro-life battles could be reversed if voters remain uninformed  especially Christian voters who alone could reclaim the rights of the unborn on November 4th.

In Jesus and Mary… E

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